MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jimmy Butler is still suiting up for the Minnesota Timberwolves, with the opener three days away.Despite his preference to play elsewhere, signs have begun to point to him staying with the Timberwolves at least to start the season. Butler took part in practice on Sunday, the second time he has done so since training camp began with his trade request as the focal point of the team."They want me to go out here and hoop to the best of my abilities," Butler said. "Make sure I'm healthy, compete, because that's what I love to do, and do it for the guys in the same jerseys as me."Butler made a surprising, and reportedly disruptive, appearance with the Wolves during their workout on Wednesday. They canceled practice on Thursday, after Butler went on ESPN to try to explain his motivations and frustrations in a wide-ranging interview that included criticism of the consistency of the effort by teammates Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. When the Wolves played a preseason game... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Suns fired general manager Ryan McDonough on Monday, nine days before their season begins.James Jones and Trevor Bukstein will share the GM duties on an interim basis for the Suns. Jones is the team's vice president of basketball operations and Bukstein was assistant GM under McDonough, who had been in Phoenix since 2013 and was under contract through 2020.Suns owner Robert Sarver said in a statement announcing the firing that he made the decision "after much thought and a long evaluation of our basketball operations.""There's no perfect time to make a change," Sarver said in an interview on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM radio. "For me it's just about making consistent progress and with any leader it's an ongoing evaluation process. And, ultimately, I just decided we needed to make a change."The Suns took Deandre Ayton with the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft and gave Devin Booker a $158 million extension during the offseason.Phoenix has had four straight losing... [More]

Dejounte Murray was driving past James Harden and on his way to the basket, showing one of the skills that made the San Antonio Spurs convinced he's the right point guard for their team.And then Murray's knee gave out.In an instant, the entire trajectory of the Spurs' season might have changed.Murray's season is almost certainly over, after the Spurs learned Monday that their starting point guard has a torn ACL in his right knee. The team hasn't revealed when Murray will have surgery, nor has it determined a timetable for his return, but ACL reconstruction and rehabilitation is a process that typically takes around a full year."You just carry on," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said, standing in a corner of the team's practice facility in San Antonio shortly after the Murray diagnosis was released. "He's going to be out. Devastating injury for him, for the team. But life goes on. Everybody will pick up and do the best job we can to carry forward without him."Murray, who turned 22 last month,... [More]

Dejounte Murray was driving past James Harden and on his way to the basket, showing one of the skills that made the San Antonio Spurs convinced he's the right point guard for their team.And then Murray's knee gave out.In an instant, the entire trajectory of the Spurs' season might have changed.Murray's season is almost certainly over, after the Spurs learned Monday that their starting point guard has a torn ACL in his right knee. The team hasn't revealed when Murray will have surgery, nor has it determined a timetable for his return, but ACL reconstruction and rehabilitation is a process that typically takes around a full year."You just carry on," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said, standing in a corner of the team's practice facility in San Antonio shortly after the Murray diagnosis was released. "He's going to be out. Devastating injury for him, for the team. But life goes on. Everybody will pick up and do the best job we can to carry forward without him."Murray, who turned 22 last month,... [More]

Dejounte Murray was driving past James Harden and on his way to the basket, showing one of the skills that made the San Antonio Spurs convinced he's the right point guard for their team.And then Murray's knee gave out.In an instant, the entire trajectory of the Spurs' season might have changed.Murray's season is almost certainly over, after the Spurs learned Monday that their starting point guard has a torn ACL in his right knee. The team hasn't revealed when Murray will have surgery, nor has it determined a timetable for his return, but ACL reconstruction and rehabilitation is a process that typically takes around a full year."You just carry on," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said, standing in a corner of the team's practice facility in San Antonio shortly after the Murray diagnosis was released. "He's going to be out. Devastating injury for him, for the team. But life goes on. Everybody will pick up and do the best job we can to carry forward without him."Murray, who turned 22 last month,... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA has fined Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart and forward Aron Baynes and Cleveland Cavaliers forward J.R. Smith for an on-court shoving match in their exhibition game.NBA discipline boss Kiki VanDeWeghe fined Smart $25,000 for escalating the altercation and Smith $15,000 for shoving. Baynes was assessed $15,000 for initiating it.The league announced the fines Monday.In the first quarter of Saturday's game in Cleveland, Smith and Baynes got tangled up while boxing out under the Boston basket. Smith gave Baynes a two-handed push, and Smart ran in from near mid-court to retaliate with a shove of his own.Smart was given a technical foul and ejected. Smith was given a technical.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Suns fired general manager Ryan McDonough on Monday, eight days before the season begins.James Jones and Trevor Bukstein will share the GM duties on an interim basis for the Suns. Jones is the team's vice president of basketball operations and Bukstein was assistant GM under McDonough, who had been in Phoenix since 2013 and was under contract through 2020.Suns owner Robert Sarver said in a statement announcing the firing that he made the decision "after much thought and a long evaluation of our basketball operations."The Suns took Deandre Ayton with the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft and gave Devin Booker a $158 million extension during the offseason. Phoenix has had four straight losing seasons and no playoff berth since 2010.Last year's 21-61 record was the worst in the NBA and second-worst in franchise history.But with the addition of Ayton and some other offseason moves, McDonough said at the team's media day that those days were over and the goal... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Suns have fired general manager Ryan McDonough barely a week before the season begins.James Jones and Trevor Bukstein will share the GM duties on an interim basis for the Suns. Jones is the team's vice president of basketball operations and Bukstein was assistant GM under McDonough, who had been in Phoenix since 2013 and was under contract through 2020.Suns owner Robert Sarver said Monday he made the decision to fire McDonough "after much thought and a long evaluation of our basketball operations."The Suns took Deandre Ayton with the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft and gave Devin Booker a $158 million extension during the offseason. Phoenix has had four straight losing seasons and no playoff berths since 2010.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA has fined Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart and Cleveland Cavaliers forward J.R. Smith for an on-court shoving match in their exhibition game.The league announced the fines Monday.In the first quarter of Saturday's game in Cleveland, Smith and Celtics forward Aron Baynes got tangled up while boxing out under the Boston basket. Smith gave Baynes a two-handed push, and Smart ran in from near mid-court to retaliate with a shove of his own.NBA discipline boss Kiki VanDeWeghe fined Smart $25,000 for escalating the altercation and Smith $15,000 for initiating it.Smart had to be held back by two teammates, who tackled him to keep him from continuing to fight.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs say point guard Dejounte Murray has a torn ACL in his right knee, a major blow for the team.Murray was San Antonio's starting point guard, a role he assumed last season over longtime Spurs starter Tony Parker.Parker left as a free agent this summer, signing g with Charlotte.Murray got hurt on a drive into the lane against Houston's James Harden in the Spurs-Rockets preseason game Sunday. Murray's right knee simply appeared to give way without any contact, and he writhed in pain along the baseline after falling.An MRI on Monday confirmed the tear.He's the second Spurs guard to necessitate surgery for a knee injury this preseason. Rookie Lonnie Walker IV has a torn meniscus and will miss several weeks while recovering.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Steve Clifford knew very quickly that he was going into the family business. His father was a teacher and a high school coach in a tiny town in northern Vermont, and when he was a sophomore on his dad's team Clifford was telling his parents that he intended to head down that very same career path.The NBA was not on his radar."Never," Clifford said. "Not at all."But he got there, and he's persevered since. He dealt with a heart scare a few years ago, with debilitating headaches that left him unable to coach for a long stretch of last season, even getting fired by Michael Jordan's Charlotte Hornets this past offseason after five years and two playoffs berths there. And now he's got a new challenge, taking over the Orlando Magic and leading a team that has the Eastern Conference's longest active playoff drought.Regardless of how much turmoil he's gone through, Clifford is still counting his blessings — even now, as he inherits a rebuilding project."There's definitely times... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Suns have fired general manager Ryan McDonough barely a week before the season begins.James Jones and Trevor Bukstein will share the GM duties on an interim basis for the Suns. Jones is the team's vice president of basketball operations and Bukstein was assistant GM under McDonough, who had been in Phoenix since 2013 and was under contract through 2020.Suns owner Robert Sarver said Monday he made the decision to fire McDonough "after much thought and a long evaluation of our basketball operations."The Suns took Deondre Ayton with the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft and gave Devin Booker a $158 million extension during the offseason. Phoenix has had four straight losing seasons and no playoff berths since 2010.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Jimmy Butler may or may not be traded before Minnesota opens the season on Oct. 17 at San Antonio.However, it appears increasingly inevitable that the Butler won't be with the Timberwolves this season — and they've only got one more chance to start learning how to play without the four-time All-Star before the games start counting.Minnesota played its second-to-last preseason game on Sunday night at Hilton Coliseum, Iowa State's home floor. The Timberwolves' G-League affiliate, the Iowa Wolves, play roughly 30 miles away in Des Moines. It was the first game at Hilton, one of the loudest arenas in all of college basketball, since 1999 — and it drew a near-capacity crowd.From there it's a trip to Milwaukee's new arena on Friday and then a few days off ahead of the opener. And although the Butler drama has seemingly put the organization in a bind, Thibodeau warned against letting it become more of a distraction than it already is."Focus on the people that are here and get... [More]

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Jimmy Butler may or may not be traded before Minnesota opens the season on Oct. 17 at San Antonio.However, it appears increasingly inevitable that the Butler won't be with the Timberwolves this season — and they've only got one more chance to start learning how to play without the four-time All-Star before the games start counting.Minnesota played its second-to-last preseason game on Sunday night at Hilton Coliseum, Iowa State's home floor. The Timberwolves' G-League affiliate, the Iowa Wolves, play roughly 30 miles away in Des Moines.From there it's a trip to Milwaukee's new arena on Friday and then a few days off ahead of the opener. And although the Butler drama has seemingly put the organization in a bind, Thibodeau warned against letting it become more of a distraction than it already is."Focus on the people that are here and get ready to play. That's it," Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau said before the game. "We've got a long season, and if you look you can get distracted... [More]

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Spurs point guard Dejounte Murray will undergo an MRI after his right knee buckled late in the first half of San Antonio's preseason game against Houston on Sunday.Murray was driving to the basket against Rockets guard James Harden on a fastbreak when his knee gave. The third-year player remained on the court for several minutes writhing in pain. Spurs officials brought out a wheelchair to take him off the court, but Murray refused, rising to his feet amid a raucous cheer from the San Antonio fans. Murray tested his knee in front of the Spurs' bench before heading to the locker room with team officials.San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich did not have any updates on Murray's condition following the team's 108-93 loss to Houston.Murray replaced franchise stalwart Tony Parker as the team's starting point guard midway through last season.Murray's injury comes two days after Spurs rookie Lonnie Walker IV torn his right medial meniscus while attempting to cross over a Detroit defender. Walker will miss at least six weeks.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Editors:To help you plan for the upcoming NBA season, here are some of AP's plans before games begin Oct. 16. Please contact Oscar Dixon (odixon@ap.org) with any questions. All times Eastern. This advisory will be updated and is subject to change.PRESEASONThe AP is providing a daily roundup of preseason games, leading with the top angle of the night.UPCOMING STORIES:BKN--Magic-CliffordORLANDO, Fla. — Steve Clifford is sleeping more every night now, part of his commitment to health after a huge scare last season. But he knows that taking over as coach of the Orlando Magic and starting a rebuilding job will be an enormous challenge nonetheless — no matter how much more sleep he gets. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 2 p.m. Oct. 8BKN--NBA Diversity-Front OfficesThe NBA usually gets high marks for its diversity efforts and is widely viewed as a leader on social issues. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver believes the league needs to be better, and he made his feelings... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Kevin Durant got off the bus inside the loading dock of KeyArena about two hours before tipoff and made a quick glance toward the court, visible through the tunnel.He was back where his NBA career began more than a decade ago."When I woke up from my pregame nap I was nervous," Durant said. "I never felt that way coming into a game, especially a preseason game, but knowing this whole thing was set up for that moment I guess it was a crazy feeling to come out and feel that much love."Durant was back in Seattle on Friday night along with his Golden State Warriors for a preseason game against the Sacramento Kings for the first NBA game in the city since the SuperSonics left for Oklahoma City following the 2007-08 season. It was an opportunity for the Seattle basketball community to gather once more before KeyArena becomes a construction site later this fall as part of a $700 million renovation that is expected to land the city an expansion NHL team, and has raised hopes of the... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Slick Watts would wring out one of his sweaty headbands, whichever of the three or four in his rotation he'd worn that night, and hand it off to locker room attendant Rick Welts for a proper washing.Not just anybody got to touch Watts' signature, treasured bands, either.In Welts the Seattle SuperSonics trusted. To take care of their shoes. Stinky socks. To launder jerseys and keep track of the gear. The keys to the Seattle Center Coliseum, even, back when Welts started his Hall of Fame NBA career as a teenage ballboy.So imagine the nostalgia as the Golden State Warriors COO returned to his Pacific Northwest roots for his new team's exhibition game against Sacramento in the NBA's hurrah at KeyArena and the last scheduled event in the venue. He flew in Thursday on a picture-perfect Seattle day right over his old Queen Anne High School, then fittingly the rain came Friday — when former SuperSonics star Kevin Durant's homecoming was the biggest headline as Welts enjoyed his special... [More]

SEATTLE (AP) — Kevin Durant got off the bus inside the loading dock of KeyArena about two hours before tipoff and made a quick glance toward the court, visible through the tunnel.He was back where his NBA career began more than a decade ago."Definitely a different feeling pulling up into the arena and down into the ramp just like when I used to play here," Durant said. "Bringing back memories."Durant was back in Seattle on Friday night along with his Golden State Warriors for a preseason game against the Sacramento Kings for the first NBA game in the city since the SuperSonics left for Oklahoma City following the 2007-08 season. It was an opportunity for the Seattle basketball community to gather once more before KeyArena becomes a construction site later this fall as part of a $700 million renovation that is expected to land the city an expansion NHL team.But on this night it was again an NBA building with the same energy, excitement and noise that bounced off its walls in the heyday of... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks' key free agent acquisition is a big man who could have an impact from the perimeter.Brook Lopez started at center in the Bucks' preseason opener against the Chicago Bulls, the first basketball game at Milwaukee's new Fiserv Forum.Lopez scored six points on 3-of-8 of shooting, missing all three 3-point attempts, in 15 minutes as the Bucks rolled to a 116-82 victory on Wednesday night at their new home arena.It was a milestone moment for a team featuring All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo that hopes to secure a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs this year."I think the stars have really aligned. We have all the talent in the world on the floor," Lopez said.The 10th overall pick by the Nets in 2008, Lopez averaged 13.0 points per game last season, matching his career low, in 74 games with the Los Angeles Lakers, after spending his first nine season with the New Jersey-Brooklyn franchise.But Lopez averaged more than 20 points a game in... [More]